HIV/AIDS Main Page
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. How is HIV transmitted or spread?
A person can become infected when one of the four body fluids carrying HIV enters his/her body. The four body fluids are blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. Body fluids can enter the body through:
- A cut, tear or break in the skin.
- A puncture with a needle or other tool.
- The tissues (mucus membranes) found inside the eyes, nose or mouth; inside the vagina; the lining of the anus; and at the tip of the penis.
An HIV infected person can spread HIV to another person through:
- Vaginal, oral or anal sex.
- Sharing needles or other tools for drug use, tattooing or body piercing.
- Breastfeeding.
Whether or not HIV has been transmitted through sexual contact, it is serious and should get immediate medical attention. Jefferson County Public Health offers anonymous and confidential HIV counseling and testing. You can choose to have a "rapid test" and receive results during visit. Or, you can choose a blood draw test and return to clinic within 7 to 10 days to receive results.
Get tested and ask your partner to get tested. You'll feel better when you know you're both safe.
Learn more about the HIV test >> |
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For fact sheets and more information on HIV/AIDS, please see:
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Recorded HIV
Information Line
303-239-7036 |
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What about other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?
Jefferson County Public Health also offers an STD Clinic for testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
What do you know about other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?
Take the STD Quiz and find out! | |
How Can I Prevent Getting Infected?
- Do not share works, including needles, syringes or cotton, if you use injectable drugs.
- The only sure way of avoiding getting HIV from sex is to abstain from having sex. If you choose to have sex, latex condoms (rubbers) are good protection against the virus if they don't break or tear. When used correctly, latex condoms rarely break. Some important steps to follow to lower the chances of a condom breaking:
- Use a latex condom during anal, vaginal, and oral sex. Use a new condom for every act of sex
- Use only water-based lubricants such as K-Y jelly, Prepair, or Wet. Apply lubricants as needed. Water-based lubricants dry out quickly
- When putting a condom on, pinch the reservoir tip so that there is no air bubble when you unroll the condom
- Try using the female condom
- Keep condoms stored at room temperature. Do not expose them to temperature extremes. The latex can weaken
- Do not use condoms that have expired. Condoms have a certain shelf life as latex breaks down over time
Last Modified: Jun 9, 2009 12:18 PM
